Spain, a country that supports a two-state solution in Palestine, detained eight Catalan ministers on trumped up charges of sedition. Prosecutors also seek an arrest warrant for ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont.

Eight sacked Catalan ministers have been remanded in custody by a Spanish high court judge over the region's push for independence. Prosecutors had asked the judge to detain eight of the nine former regional government members who turned up for questioning in Madrid.

They are accused of rebellion, sedition, and misuse of public funds. Prosecutors are also seeking a European Arrest Warrant for ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont.

The request also covers four other dismissed Catalan ministers who did not show up in court in Madrid as requested, but have been in Belgium since Monday.

Detained

Former Deputy Vice President Oriol Junqueras

Former Interior Minister Joaquim Forn

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Raül Romeva

Former Justice Minister Carles Mundó

Former Labour Minister Dolors Bassa

Former Government Presidency Councillor Jordi Turull

Former Sustainable Development Minister Josep Rull

Former Culture Minister Meritxell Borras

In a statement broadcast on Catalan TV from an undisclosed location in Belgium, Mr. Puigdemont described the detention of the eight ex-ministers as "an act that breaks with the basic principles of democracy".

What's Next?

If Spain's high court judge issues a warrant, a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) will be sent to Belgian prosecutors, who have 24 hours to decide whether the paperwork is correct. If they do, they then have 15 days to arrest Mr. Puigdemont and the four others. If one or all of them appeals against it, that process could last another 15 days.

Belgium has a maximum of 60 days to return the suspects to Spain after an arrest. But if the suspects do not raise legal objections, a transfer could happen within a few days.

A country can reject an EU arrest warrant if it fears that extradition would violate the suspect's human rights. Discrimination based on politics, religion or race is grounds for refusal. So are fears that the suspect would not get a fair trial.

There is an agreed EU list of 32 offenses - in Article Two of the EAW law - for which there is no requirement for the offense to be a crime in both countries. In other words, any of those offenses can be a justification for extradition, provided the penalty is at least three years in jail.

However, neither "sedition" nor "rebellion" - two of the Spanish accusations against the Catalan leaders - are on that list.

If Catalonia, Brexit, Trump, the elections in France, Germany, Austria and Czech Rep have not sent a clear enough message on where things are headed, wait until the Italian elections and the dollar starts to make new highs. The govt/socialist bubble is popping and the worthless sociopaths in govt are going to lose what little mind they have trying to hold on to their perks and power, which means taxes and oppression will continue to rise.

Carlos_

Nov 3, 2017

@Blacklisted LoL wishful thinking Artur Mas was fine 6M euros for diverting tax funds to fund the "independence" movement. He then launch an ICO to have Catalonias help him pay for it. H collected 2M euros so about 1 euro per independista. So LOL Catalonias will not pay for the "independence" get real

Blacklisted

Nov 3, 2017

If Jerry Brown crowd funded an independence vote he would be over funded, and the residual could be sent to IL, NY, and the other Collectivist, anti-American black holes. The rest of the country would even help them rig the votes to secede. Why didn't Catalonia launch an ICO to fund the independence movement? They would've received enough to jump start the new govt, institute their own 2nd amendment and buy everyone their first gun.

Carlos_

Nov 3, 2017

@Mish You been so wrong on this subject matter that if I roll my yes any harder I would be able to see the back of my head... So in case you don't know (I think you do but you have decided to ignore the fact long ago). These people (among many other things) are accused of using tax dollars to finance their "independence" movement. Let's assume that Jerry Brown decides tomorrow to take a big chunk of California's tax money and divert it to the California "independence" movement. What do you think it will happen to him?

DBG8489

Nov 3, 2017

@peacock

Subjecting one's self to the authority of a nation's court is not the same thing as being seized and arrested by that nation and forced to trial for a crime of which they've accused you.

Once arrested, anyone can refuse to participate. They can refuse to lodge a plea; refuse to speak; refuse to interact, answer the judge...etc. That's how you "refuse to recognize the authority" of some particular court.

That doesn't mean they won't take you outside and shoot you to show you that their authority is valid - it just means that as long as you're alive, you don't recognize it.